In addition to giving the McBride camp a morale boost, the good results in the non-partisan poll will clearly help McBride raise campaign funds against the well-funded Bush.

[Pollster Brad] Coker said the Bush-McBride debate Friday night, the first of three televised meetings planned before the Nov. 5 election, will be important for both candidates in swaying the 7 percent of undecided voters in such a tight race.

"Any major gaffe or miscue can knock any candidate's campaign into a tailspin," Coker said. "I think they're both anxious to get into a debate - Bush, to stop this momentum surge on McBride's part, and McBride, to get people focused on the campaign."